Benbrook P&Z recommends City Council allow HUD-code manufactured homes by right in Suburban (SD) district to comply with SB 785

The Benbrook Planning and Zoning Commission recommended that the City Council adopt an ordinance to amend Title 17 of the Benbrook Municipal Code to comply with Senate Bill 785 (89th Texas Legislature). The motion, moved by Commissioner Rodriguez and seconded, instructs the City Council to establish the SD Suburban Zoning District on the zoning map and to permit new HUD-code manufactured homes by right in that district.

Planning staff explained SB 785 requires municipalities with zoning to either permit HUD-code manufactured homes by right in at least one residential district or identify a specific area where the use is allowed and rezone that property. Mr. Howard described the staff’s analysis of Benbrook’s residential zoning districts and recommended the SD Suburban District as the most compatible option. "We evaluated all the city's existing residential zoning districts," Mr. Howard said, adding that lower-density districts (RE and SD) are more compatible because they provide more space between housing types and reduce potential compatibility issues.

Staff quantified available land and compatibility: the RE (Residential Estates) district comprises about 166 acres and could, in theory, allow about 166 new units if every acre were redeveloped under a one-dwelling-per-acre assumption; the SD inventory totals roughly 160 acres and would yield far fewer lots under its 10-acre-per-unit standard (staff estimated approximately 15 units if every qualifying ten-acre parcel were redeveloped). Mr. Howard noted the city is nearly built out, limiting mapping options; the staff recommendation was to allow HUD-code manufactured homes by right in the SD district and make related zoning text and map amendments.

Commissioners raised infrastructure concerns. Commissioner Adelman asked whether the RE district has city water and sewer; Mr. Howard confirmed the RE areas lack city utilities and said development there would likely require wells and septic systems and could need larger parcel sizes ("probably looking at more 2, maybe 3 acres") to meet county separation rules. Public comment was opened and then closed with no speakers recorded for or against on the transcript. Commissioner Rodriguez moved to recommend the City Council adopt the ordinance; the motion passed on a voice vote.